Speeches (Lines) for Gonzalo
in "Tempest"
Total: 52

1

I,1,21

Boatswain. Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your
cabins: you do assist the storm.

Gonzalo. Nay, good, be patient.

2

I,1,24

Boatswain. When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers
for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.

Gonzalo. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.

3

I,1,34

(stage directions). [Exit]

Gonzalo. I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he
hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is
perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his
hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable,
for our own doth little advantage. If he be not
born to be hanged, our case is miserable.

4

I,1,55

Antonio. Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noisemaker!
We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

Gonzalo. I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were
no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an
unstanched wench.

5

I,1,63

Boatswain. What, must our mouths be cold?

Gonzalo. The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them,
For our case is as theirs.

6

I,1,69

Antonio. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:
This wide-chapp'd rascal—would thou mightst lie drowning
The washing of ten tides!

Gonzalo. He'll be hang'd yet,
Though every drop of water swear against it
And gape at widest to glut him.
[A confused noise within: 'Mercy on us!'—]
'We split, we split!'—'Farewell, my wife and
children!'—
'Farewell, brother!'—'We split, we split, we split!']

7

I,1,79

(stage directions). [Exeunt ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN]

Gonzalo. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an
acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any
thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain
die a dry death.

8

II,1,706

(stage directions). [Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO,]
ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others]

Gonzalo. Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause,
So have we all, of joy; for our escape
Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe
Is common; every day some sailor's wife,
The masters of some merchant and the merchant
Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle,
I mean our preservation, few in millions
Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
Our sorrow with our comfort.

9

II,1,720

Sebastian. Look he's winding up the watch of his wit;
by and by it will strike.

Gonzalo. Sir,—

10

II,1,722

Sebastian. One: tell.

Gonzalo. When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd,
Comes to the entertainer—

11

II,1,725

Sebastian. A dollar.

Gonzalo. Dolour comes to him, indeed: you
have spoken truer than you purposed.

12

II,1,728

Sebastian. You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.

Gonzalo. Therefore, my lord,—

13

II,1,731

Alonso. I prithee, spare.

Gonzalo. Well, I have done: but yet,—

14

II,1,753

Antonio. Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.

Gonzalo. Here is everything advantageous to life.

15

II,1,756

Sebastian. Of that there's none, or little.

Gonzalo. How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!

16

II,1,761

Sebastian. No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.

Gonzalo. But the rarity of it is,—which is indeed almost
beyond credit,—

17

II,1,764

Sebastian. As many vouched rarities are.

Gonzalo. That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in
the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and
glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with
salt water.

18

II,1,771

Sebastian. Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report

Gonzalo. Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we
put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of
the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.

19

II,1,777

Adrian. Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to
their queen.

Gonzalo. Not since widow Dido's time.

20

II,1,784

Adrian. 'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that:
she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.

Gonzalo. This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.

21

II,1,786

Adrian. Carthage?

Gonzalo. I assure you, Carthage.

22

II,1,794

Antonio. And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring
forth more islands.

Gonzalo. Ay.

23

II,1,796

Antonio. Why, in good time.

Gonzalo. Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now
as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage
of your daughter, who is now queen.

24

II,1,802

Antonio. O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido.

Gonzalo. Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I
wore it? I mean, in a sort.

25

II,1,805

Antonio. That sort was well fished for.

Gonzalo. When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?

26

II,1,841

Alonso. So is the dear'st o' the loss.

Gonzalo. My lord Sebastian,
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaster.

27

II,1,847

Antonio. And most chirurgeonly.

Gonzalo. It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
When you are cloudy.

28

II,1,851

Antonio. Very foul.

Gonzalo. Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,—

29

II,1,854

Sebastian. Or docks, or mallows.

Gonzalo. And were the king on't, what would I do?

30

II,1,856

Sebastian. 'Scape being drunk for want of wine.

Gonzalo. I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all;
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty;—

31

II,1,869

Antonio. The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the
beginning.

Gonzalo. All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.

32

II,1,877

Antonio. None, man; all idle: whores and knaves.

Gonzalo. I would with such perfection govern, sir,
To excel the golden age.

33

II,1,881

Antonio. Long live Gonzalo!

Gonzalo. And,—do you mark me, sir?

34

II,1,883

Alonso. Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.

Gonzalo. I do well believe your highness; and
did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,
who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that
they always use to laugh at nothing.

35

II,1,888

Antonio. 'Twas you we laughed at.

Gonzalo. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing
to you: so you may continue and laugh at
nothing still.

36

II,1,893

Sebastian. An it had not fallen flat-long.

Gonzalo. You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would lift
the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue
in it five weeks without changing.

37

II,1,899

Antonio. Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

Gonzalo. No, I warrant you; I will not adventure
my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh
me asleep, for I am very heavy?

38

II,1,1051

Antonio. Then let us both be sudden.

Gonzalo. Now, good angels
Preserve the king.

39

II,1,1056

Alonso. Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?
Wherefore this ghastly looking?

Gonzalo. What's the matter?

40

II,1,1066

Alonso. Heard you this, Gonzalo?

Gonzalo. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd,
I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,
That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,
Or that we quit this place; let's draw our weapons.

41

II,1,1074

Alonso. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search
For my poor son.

Gonzalo. Heavens keep him from these beasts!
For he is, sure, i' the island.

42

III,3,1554

(stage directions). [Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO,]
ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others]

Gonzalo. By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
My old bones ache: here's a maze trod indeed
Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,
I needs must rest me.

43

III,3,1578

Alonso. What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!

Gonzalo. Marvellous sweet music!
[Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several]
strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet;
they dance about it with gentle actions of
salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to
eat, they depart]

44

III,3,1594

Antonio. I'll believe both;
And what does else want credit, come to me,
And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did
lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.

Gonzalo. If in Naples
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say, I saw such islanders—
For, certes, these are people of the island—
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.

45

III,3,1615

Alonso. Not I.

Gonzalo. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.

46

III,3,1676

(stage directions). [Exit above]

Gonzalo. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?

47

III,3,1691

(stage directions). [Exeunt SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO]

Gonzalo. All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,
Like poison given to work a great time after,
Now 'gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly
And hinder them from what this ecstasy
May now provoke them to.

48

V,1,2135

(stage directions). [Exit]

Gonzalo. All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement
Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us
Out of this fearful country!

49

V,1,2157

Prospero. First, noble friend,
Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot
Be measured or confined.

Gonzalo. Whether this be
Or be not, I'll not swear.

50

V,1,2257

Prospero. There, sir, stop:
Let us not burthen our remembrance with
A heaviness that's gone.

Gonzalo. I have inly wept,
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you god,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown!
For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither.

51

V,1,2263

Alonso. I say, Amen, Gonzalo!

Gonzalo. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue
Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice
Beyond a common joy, and set it down
With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
Where he himself was lost, Prospero his dukedom
In a poor isle and all of us ourselves
When no man was his own.

52

V,1,2275

Alonso. [To FERDINAND and MIRANDA] Give me your hands:
Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
That doth not wish you joy!

Gonzalo. Be it so! Amen!
[Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain]
amazedly following]
O, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us:
I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?